Extremely rare 1899 Sheffield United memento for sale

It COST only one old penny new - but now, more than 100 years later, one of the rarest and most sought-after Sheffield United programmes is set to fetch between �5,000 and �6,000 at auction. The 'extremely rare' 1899 Blades versus Derby County FA Cup final programme could be worth even more - nearer �8,000 - if it were in finer condition

It COST only one old penny new - but now, more than 100 years later, one of the rarest and most sought-after Sheffield United programmes is set to fetch between £5,000 and £6,000 at auction.

The ‘extremely rare’ 1899 Blades versus Derby County FA Cup final programme could be worth even more - nearer £8,000 - if it were in better condition and did not have ‘very old tape repairs’ and ‘minor areas of paper loss’.

But the faults are unlikely to deter serious collectors.

Auctioneer Graham Budd said: “I think collectors are more forgiving with extremely rare programmes as you really just have to find whatever you can to have representation in your collection. Will you find one in better condition? Possibly, but maybe not for a very long time.”

The 1899 FA Cup final programme is a particularly special Sheffield memento because the Blades won the FA Cup for the first time in 1899 and it was also the first of their six appearances in an FA Cup final.

They went on to win the FA Cup again in 1902, 1915 and 1925 and were also runners-up in 1901 and 1936.

The 1899 FA Cup final took place at the Crystal Palace in London on April 15, 1899, and, watched by a crowd of 73,833, the Blades beat Derby County 4-1.

Derby led 1-0 at half time, but Sheffield United fought back with four second half goals in 29 minutes - from Walter Bennett, Billy Beer, Jack Almond and Fred Priest - to lift the cup.

Sheffield United FA Cup final programmes usually fetch big sums at auction.

At Sotheby’s in London in February 2003, a 1901 Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup final programme sold for £14,400, setting a new world auction record for a football programme.

Before the auction it had been expected to sell for between £2,500 and £3,500.

The 1899 Sheffield United v Derby FA Cup final programme will be sold at Graham Budd Auctions at Sotheby’s in London.